Letter file



J. M. HURLl-:Y

LETTER EILE Original `Filed May 27, 1940 -mll M June l5, 1943.

Patented June 15, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT-formes Original application May 27, 1940, Serial No.

337,453. Divided and this application September 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,208

7 Claims. (Cl. 129-43) This invention relates to card files and is particularly adapted for files which can be conveniently transported and also conveniently opened to provide a. ready reference iile wherein the file cards and papers will not become disarranged While being transported. This application is a divisional application carved out of application Serial No. 337,453, entitled Card file, filed in my name on May 27, 1940, which latter application has since matured into Patent' No. 2,298,128, issued October 6I, 1942. v v` An object of my invention is to provide a card le of this type which can be completely closed to protect the contents of the le and which, when opened, will present the contents in such position that they can be readily referred to.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable card le including a receptacle and a closure wherein the closure is movable relative to the receptacle but connected thereto to provide a convenient unitary structure.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which- Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an embodiment of the invention, the full line position showing the device closed and the dotted line position showing it partially opened;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device closed; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device showing it in completely opened position.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a receptacle R which includes a pair of inclined side walls I rigidly connected at their high ends by a wall 8. The side walls incline downwardly nearly tothe bottom 9 of the receptacle and across the left hand end of the bottom, as viewed in Fig. '7, there is a wall ID hingedly connected by hinge II to the low ends of the side walls 1. Opposite from the hinged edge of the wall I0 is an up-turned portion I2 and the end wall I0 has a pair of triangular wall sections I3 which incline from the edge of the up-turned portion I2 to the hinge II. As will readily be seen from Fig. 3, the hinged receptacle wall I0 may be swung inwardly between the main receptacle side walls 1.

A closure I4 is connected by a hinge I5 to the edge of the angularly bent wall portion I2, and, as indicated in Fig. 3, the closure I4 ts in between the receptacle walls 1. The closure I4 has a pair of inclined side walls I6 which at their high portions are connected by a cross plate Il, said plate having a ange portion I8 positioned substantially parallel to the main closure I 4. Extending between the lowerend of the closure I4, as viewed in Fig. 7, and the flange I8, is a iile card receiving rod I9 adapted to receive a group of cards 20. Of course, Suitable means is provided for releasing at least one end of the rod I8 to permit perforated le cards to be slipped on the rod. A substantially U-shaped wire element 2I is .pivotally connected tothe inner side of the closure I4, as shown,. and the memberv 2I is adapted to fit around a stack of cards 2l). As indicated in Fig. 3, the U-'shaped wireelement 2| is prevented from falling downwardly by a' pair of oppositely disposed inward projections 22. The wire 2I may be forced downwardly past these projections, however, when it is desired to swing one or more of the iile cards outwardly from the others so that an intermediate card can be readily viewed.

When the device is swung from the open position of Fig. 3 to the closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the closure member I4 is swung upwardly to raise the hinged receptacle wall I0 to a vertical position and thereupon the closure member I4 is swung downwardly to a substantially horizontal position. A -U-shaped bar 23 which is hinged to the closure I4 thereupon can be swung over the receptacle end Wall 8 and sprung over a pair of rounded knobs 24 on the outer side of the end wall 8 to lock the device in closed position. The knobs 24 also pivotally support a bail shaped handle 25 whereby the device when positioned in upright relation, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, can be readily carried as is a suit case. The free end of the closure I4 is prevented from dropping into the receptacle by means of outwardly projecting iianges 26 attached to walls I S and which engage the inclined edges of the receptacle walls 'I. Thus the device is locked securely and provides a substantially portable iile structure which can be easily opened and placed in position for use.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a portable card le structure which can be completely closed so that the contents cannot be injured by dust or other means, and which, at the same time can be quickly and conveniently opened and set up for use. The several parts are so interconnected that they provide a unitary structure and there are; no disconnected parts to become misplaced and consequently the structure is such that it is of particular convenience for use by traveling men who might have to quickly refer to records in motor vehicles or at customer stops.

It should be noted that when the parts of the device are positioned as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l ready access may be had to the cars 20 for reference and that additional cards, papers or other matter may be temporarily stowed in the receptacle R. for reference and use Without danger of such matter being blown away by the wind.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the Various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention, which generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A card le comprising a box-like receptacle having a hinged end wall adapted to swing inwardly between adjacent receptacle walls, and a closure adapted to t between adjacent receptacle Walls and hingedly connected to said hinged end wall.

2. The structurey dened in claim 1, and card le holding means secured to the inner side of said receptacle closure' 3. The structure dened in claim 1, and card file holding means secured to the inner side of said receptacle closure, said holding means including an' element movable against a stack of cards to hold them against disarrangement when not in use.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, and means' on said closure spaced from the point of connection between said closure and said hinged end Wall to prevent said closure from falling into said receptacle, and means for securing said closure and hinged end wall against swinging movement relative to the remainder of said receptacle.

5. A file comprising a main receptacle having inclined side walls, a bottom wall and an end wall set at right angles to the bottom wall and connecting the high edges of the side walls, an angular end closure pivotally connected to said receptacle at its end opposite said end wall and a top closure pivotally connected to said end closure, substantially triangular shaped side plates connected to said top closure and said end closure, said top closure being of such a Width as to iit between the side walls of said main receptacle, and means preventing said top closure from dropping downwardly beyond a position substantially parallel to said bottom wall when said end closure is set at right angles to said bottom wall and said top closure is set approximately parallel to said bottom wall, l

6. The structure dened in claim 5, and a cross plate set at an obtuse angle relative to said top closure and joining the same at its point of hinged connection with said end closure and forming a base for the holding of cards and the like within said topl closure at certain times.

'7. The structure defined in claim 5, a cross plate set at an obtuse angle relative to said top closure and joining the same at its point of hinged connection with said end closure and forming a base for the holding of cards and the like Within said top closure at certain times, and a U-shaped member pivotally secured to the inner side of said top closure to assist in retaining the cards therein.

JOSEPH M. HURLEY. 

